Model water racing toy



June 3, 1969 w. MOORE 3,447,258

MODEL WATER RACING TOY Filed Feb. 14. 1967 Sheet of 2 FIG. 1. 5

FIG. 3.

' INVENTORY VV/LL/AM MOO/PE MAHoA/EY & Ham/5M5? June 3, 1969 w. MOORE 3,447,258

MODEL WATER RACING TOY Filed Feb. 14. 1967 Sheet of 2 INVEMTO/Q W/LL/AM M0025 Adm/aver 8: Hams/514x52 A rrozwsrs United States Patent 3,447,258 MODEL WATER RAClNG TOY William Moore, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor of thirtythree and one-third percent interest to Thomas P. Mahoney, Malibu, Calif.

Filed Feb. 14, 1967, Ser. No. 615,949 Int. Cl. A63h 23/00, 21/00, 19/30 US. Cl. 46-243 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a model water racing toy of the type preferably formed to simulate a boat and having propulsion means therein for propelling said boat through water. More particularly, this invention relates to a model water racing toy of the foregoing type wherein the floating body or boat is engaged with guide track means preferably below the surface of the water, said guide track means being constructed for guiding said boat along a predetermined path and atthe same time, transmitting electrical power to said boat for actuating and controlling the water propulsion means thereof.

Various forms of model racing toys have heretofore been provided, including model water racing boats selfpropelled and designed for movement through the water. To my knowledge, however, all such prior model racing boats have either been controlled as to their path of travel through the water by a preset rudder for steering the boat generally along a predetermined path or remote electronic control means for remotely controlling at least a movable rudder for directing the boat in a desired path. Both said prior control means for the boat have inherent disadvantages.

In the case of the preset rudder, the prime difliculty is occasioned by the fact that once the boat is started along the race course, there is nothing to assure that the boat will continue in the exact predetermined path desired. A slight error in presetting the steering rudder can cause the boat to veer from the predetermined path and, therefore, come into interference with other model racing boats. Furthermore, any movement of the water during the travel of the boat therethrough can change the path of travel despite the preset rudder steering, again causing the boat to veer from the predetermined path.

In the case of remote electronic control of the boat, it is inherently necessary that the boat will contain extensive electronic circuitry and components, many times requiring the boat to be of a prohibitive size. Also, the provision of electronic equipment in the boat, as well as remote electronic equipment for controlling said boat, results in the overall toy being quite expensive to manufacture and provide. In addition, where speed control is also necessary and desirable, such speed control can be provided with the remote electronic control equipment, but adds even further to the expense thereof, and said speed control cannot be provided with the previously discussed preset rudder control, since there is no connection to the boat whether direct or remote through which said speed control can be obtained.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide a model water racing toy wherein particularly constructed "ice track means is provided directly in the water in constant operable contact with the propulsion means of the boat or the like for guiding said boat around a predetermined path of movement within said water. Furthermore, in view of the constant or continuous contact between the boat and the track means, the propulsion means of the boat may be controlled through electrical conductors on the track means contacting an electrical power pickup of the boat to actuate and control said propulsion means. The boat water propulsion means may include an electric motor driven and speed-controlled by the electrical power from the track means, or in larger units, may be a driving motor driven by other than electrical power but electrically actuated and controlled through said track means.

It is another object of my invention to provide a model water racing toy of the foregoing type wherein the track means may be positioned beneath the water surface and the boat or other object may engage downwardly therewith for producing the electrical contact between the boat and track means, said engagement being a slidable engagement for permitting movement of said boat along said track. The track means may be the foregoing submerged track means and may be positioned on a flat bottom of the container for the water. Further, the submerged track means may be a floating track means wherein both the boat and the track means are floating and the water within which they are positioned may be of any depth.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a model water racing toy of the foregoing type and having the foregoing submerged track means co-operable therewith Wherein the buoyancy of the boat is preferably predetermined and closely controlled relative to the submerged depth of the track means for maintaining clearance between the boat and the track means except as to said electrical contact, thereby providing said boat with maximum freedom for movement along said track means and through the water. Where the track means is stationary submerged track means resting on the flat bottom of the container for the water, the water level must be closely controlled if said clearance is to be maintained. Where said track means is a floating track means, a close buoyancy relationship between the boat and track means must be precalculated where said clearance is desired.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings which are for the purpose of illustration only, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of model water racing toy apparatus incorporating the principles of the present invention wherein a pair of model boats are positioned in a container of water engaged with a specific form of track means;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, sectional view taken along the broken line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical, sectional view taken along the broken line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view similar to FIG. 3 and showing an alternate form of boat and track means according to the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional view taken along the broken line 5-5 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, top plan view of a section of track means incorporating an electrically actuated switch; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, perspective view illustrating a section of track means incorporating a typical crossover.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawings, the embodiment of the apparatus incorporating the principles of the present invention includes a first floating body in the form of a boat 10, a second floating body in the form of a boat 12, inner track means 14 engaged by the first boat 10, outer track means 16 engaged by the second boat 12 and all of said boats and track means being positioned in a container 18 filled with water 20 to a Water level 22.

Furthermore, a first boat control 24 outside the container 18 is electrically connected through a divided cable 26 into and through the Water 20 beneath the water level 22 to the inner track means 14, and a second boat control 28 is similarly electrically connected through a divided cable 30 to the outer track means 16. Each of the pairs of first and second boats 10 and 12, inner and outer track means 14 and 16, first and second boat controls 24 and 28, and cables 26 and 30 are constructed with one of said pairs substantially the same as the other of said pairs so that a description of one of each of said pairs will suffice for the other.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first boat 10 includes a usual hull 32 having a downwardly projecting fin keel 34 secured thereto and serving as the follower means for contacting the inner track means 14. The hull 32 and fin keel 34 may be formed of usual materials, such as plastic, having inherent buoyancy or buoyancy added thereto in the usual manner. Furthermore, the fin keel 34 is prefera-bly positioned on the hull 32 longitudinally forwardly of the center of buoyancy of said hull so that said fin keel will serve a guiding function for the hull along the inner track means 14.

A preferably D.C. electric motor 36 is positioned in the hull 32 connected for rotating a propeller or screw 38 through a shaft 40 so as to form the water propulsion means for the first boat 10. The drive motor 36 is electrically connected through leads 42 to transversely spaced, contact strips 44 extending downwardly through the hull 32 and along oppositely transversely facing sides of the fin keel 34. The contact strips 44 are formed at lower ends thereof adjacent the lower end of the fin keel 34 with the transversely spaced, transversely oppositely depending pickup contacts 46 and said contact strips and contacts may be formed of usually electrically conducting materials, such as copper, brass, and the like.

The inner track means 14 includes a generally longitudinally extending track member 48 which is generally U-shaped in transverse cross section forming an upwardly opening recess 50 defined by transversely spaced and opposed side surfaces 52 and a bottom surface 54, as shown in FIG. 3. Transversely spaced and opposed conductor strips 56 are secured to the opposed recess side surfaces 52 and each extends longitudinally continuously along the track member 48. The track member 48 is spaced downwardly beneath the water level 22 a predetermined distance to be hereinafter discussed, and receives the boat fin keel 34 downwardly into the recess 50 thereof with the keel pickup contacts 46 slidably engaged with the track conductor strips 56 and preferably with the lower extremity of said keel maintained spaced upwardly from the recess bottom surface 54, also to be hereinafter more fully discussed.

The outer track means 16 includes a similar track member 58 having the conductor strips 60 and is uniformly transversely spaced around the container 18 from the first boat track member 48 for similarly receiving the second boat 12. Furthermore, both said track members 48 and 58 are secured to a series of longitudinally spaced and transversely extending cross supports 62 with the ends of said supports mounting markers 64 projecting upwardly above the water level 22 and including usual flotation or buoyancy means when the inner and outer track means 14 and 16 are to be floating track means.

Where the inner and outer track means 14 and 16 are p determined a distance D above the upper extremities of 7 the track members 48 and 58 and the flotation or buoyancy of the first and second boats 10 and 12 is predetermined so that, for instance, the buoyancy of the first boat 10 will always maintain the fin keel 34 thereof in the track member 48 with the keel lower extremities having a clearance above the recess bottom surface 54 of the track member 48 while the boat pickup contacts 46 remain longitudinally slidably engaged with the track conductor strips 60, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. With said clearance between the boat fin keel 34 and the track member 48, the first boat 10 will be relatively freely movable along the inner track means 14, as will be the second boat 12 along the outer track means 16 in view of similar positioning thereof.

Where the inner and outer track means 14 and 16 are to be floating track means so as to eliminate any relationship of the overall depth of the water 20 to the functioning of the first and second boats 10 and 12, the exact same relationship is maintained between the first and second boats and their respective inner and outer track means 14 and 16. In this case, the markers 64, however, are provided with predetermined amounts of flotation or buoyancy for maintaining the track members 48 and 58 properly spaced beneath the water level 22. In this manner, the same clearance relationship between the first and second boats 10 and 12 and their respective track means 14 and 16 is maintained for relative freedom of movement of said coats as self-propelled along said track means.

In view of the fact that the track members 48 and 58 are positioned within the water 20 and below the water level 22, and in further view of the fact that virtually the slightest impurities in the water will cause said water to conduct electrical current, it is important that the electrical contacts between the first and second boats 10 and 12 and the track members 48 and 58 will be of less spacing than, for instance considering the first boat 10, between the boat contact strips 44 and pickup contacts 46, as well as between the track conductor strips 56, so that the electrical current will take the path of least resistance through the various contact strips, pickup contacts and conductor strips, rather than shorting out through the water 20. It is preferred, of course, that the pickup contacts 46 of the first boat 10 will be in direct slidable contact with the conductor strips 56 of the track member 48. The same considerations apply to the second boat 12 relative to the outer track means 16 for preventing the shorting out of the electrical current.

The conductor strips 56 of track member 48 must, of course, transmit D.C. electrical current of opposite polarity and said conductor strips are separately connected to the first boat control 24 through the divided cable 26, said boat control being positioned outside the container 18. The first boat control 24 is of usual construction well known to those skilled in the art for supplying D.C. electrical power through the divide-d cable 26 to the track conductor strips 56 and thereby controlling the actuation of the drive motor 36 as to direction and speed. As shown in FIG. 5, the divided cable 26 may include insulated leads 66 positioned spaced by a series of dividers 68 also preferably being of insulating material. The construction and connection of the second boat control 28 through the divided cable 30 to the outer track means 16 is substantially the same and operates in the same manner.

Thus, a pair of model water racing boats 10 and 12 is provided according to the principles of the present invention, which boats may be uniquely completely controlled by the first and second boat controls 24 and 28 through the particularly formed inner and outer track means 14 and 16. The control of said boats may be not only as to speed and direction of movement along said track means, but said track means serve to steer said boats around a predetermined race course. Furthermore, due to the unique electrical contact engagement between the first and second boats 10 and 12 and the inner and outer track means 14 and 16, a maximum freedom of movement of said boats along said track means is provided so that true racing conditions between said boats will prevail.

An alternate form of boat and track means construction is illustrated in FIG. 4 wherein a boat 70 having a hull 72 and a fin keel 74 is provided with contact strips 76 connected through leads 78 to a drive motor 80. In this case, however, the contact strips 76 extend downwardly below the lower extremity of the fin keel 74 so as to form a downwardly opening recess 82 defined by transversely spaced pickup contacts 84 at recess side surfaces and a top surface 86. Furthermore, track means 88 is formed by a longitudinally extending track member 90 projecting upwardly into the keel recess 82 having an upper extremity spaced downwardly from the recessed top surface 86 to provide the previously discussed clearance, and having oppositely transversely depending conductor strips 92 slidably engaged with the keel pickup contacts 84.

In the alternate form of FIG. 4, the same floatation or buoyancy considerations prevail as previously discussed, Whether the track means 88 is a stationary track means or a floating track means, also as previously discussed. Furthermore, the track means 88 may be similarly supported and will function in combination with the boat 70 in substantially the same manner.

A representative form of track switch is illustrated 1n FIG. 6. As shown, a switching member 94 may be controlled by a plastic sealed electric solenoid 96, all of which may be positioned beneath the water level. Furthermore, the electric solenoid 96 may be controlled exteriorly of the water through usual electrical leads 100.

A typical form of crossover for the track means is shown in FIG. 7. It will be noted that conductor strips 102 are particularly arranged with certain strips disconnected at said crossover for maintaining proper polarity contact with the particular boat passing therethrough in either direction.

Thus, according to the principles of the present invention, a model water racing toy, preferably in the form of the boats and 12, may be provided having unique guide and control means therefor for positively controlling said boats along a predetermined racing course in a body of water. Additionally, through particularly formed and precalculated floatation or buoyancy of the boats relative to the various guiding track means, not only are said boats perfectly guided, but also a maximum freedom of movement is maintained between said boats and said track means. Still further, said proper floatation or buoyancy relationship between the boats and the track means is maintained whether the track means is stationary within the water or said track means is floating track means so as to provide the arrangement usable in any body of water without regard as to the depth thereof.

I claim:

1. In a water toy, the combination of: a selfpropelled floating body having electrically actuated water propulsion means thereon for propelling said body through water; follower means on said body movable with said body, said follower means including an electric power pickup for conducting electric power to said body water propulsion means; guide track means in said water engaged by said body follower means for movably guiding said follower means and body along said track means, conductor means continuously along said track means slidably engaged with said follower means pickup for conducting electric power to said follower means pickup; means for supplying electric power to said track conductor means; and buoyancy means operably connected to certain of said body and -'body follower means and track means for maintaining clearance between said body follower means and track means except at said follower mean pickup and t k conductor means.

2. A water toy as defined in claim 1 in which said buoyancy means is operably connected to all of said body and body follower means and track means forming said track means floating and maintaining said clearance.

3. A water toy as defined in claim 1 in which said follower means is secured on said body extending downwardly from said body; and in which said track means is positioned beneath the surface of said water engaged downwardly by said follower means.

4. A water toy as defined in claim 1 in which said follower means is rigid on said body extending downwardly therefrom; in which said buoyancy means is operably connected to said body and said track means forming said track means floating and positioned downwardly beneath said body downwardly engaged by said follower means; and in which the combination of said buoyancy means on said body and on said track means maintains said clearance between said body follower means and said track means except at said follower means pickup and track conductor means.

5. A water toy as defined in claim 1 in which said body is a generally longitudinally extending boat; in which said follower means is a keel member secured to and extending downwardly from said boat, said follower means pickup including oppositely transversely depending contacts; and in which said track means is positioned beneath the surface of said water and includes an upwardly opening recess receiving said follower means keel member therein and spaced upwardly from a lower surface defining said recess, said track conductor means including conductor strips on transversely opposed surfaces of said track means defining said recess.

6. A water toy as defined in claim 1 in which said body is a generally longitudinally extending boat; in which said follower means is a keel member secured to and extending downwardly from said boat, said keel member including a downwardly opening recess formed by transversely spaced side surfaces and an upper surface, said follower means pickup including opposed transversely depending contacts mounted on said side surfaces of said keel member recess; in which said track means includes an upwardly extending track member beneath the surface of said water receiving said follower means keel member downwardly thereover, said track member being received upwardly within said keel member recess, said track conductor means including oppositely depending conductor strips on transversely opposite surfaces of said track member longitudinally slidably engaged with said keel member contacts; and in which said buoyancy means is operably connected to at least said boat for maintaining clearance between said track member downwardly from said upper surface of said keel member recess.

7. In a water toy, the combination of: a self-propelled floating body having electrically actuated water propulsion means thereon for propelling said body through water; follower means on said body movable with said body, said follower means including an electric power pickup for conducting electric power to said body water propulsion means; guide track means in said water engaged by said body follower means for movably guiding said follower means and body along said track means, conductor means continuously along said track means slidably engaged with said follower means pickup for conducting electric power to said follower means pickup; means for supplying electric power to said track conductor means; and buoyancy means operably connected to at least said body and track means for maintaining said body and track means floating in said water during said engagement of said track means by said body follower means.

8. A water toy as defined in claim 7 in which said follower means is secured to and extends downwardly from said body beneath the surface of said water; and in which sa1d buoyancy means is operably connected to said track means maintaining said track means floating spaced beneath said water surface and engaged by said 'body follower means.

9. A water toy as defined in claim 7 in which said follower means is secured to and extends downwardly from said body beneath the surface of said water; and in which said buoyancy means is operably connected to said track means maintaining said track means floating spaced beneath said water surface and engaged by said body follower means, said buoyancy means being constructed and arranged in combination with said body and track means for maintaining clearance between said follower means and said track means except at said follower means pickup and track conductor means.

10. A water toy as defined in claim 7 in which said follower means is secured to said body and extends downwardly therefrom beneath the surface of said water; in which said track means is positioned below said water surface and receives said follower means interfitting downwardly therewith; and in which said buoyancy means is 8 operably connected to said body and track means maintaining clearance between said follower means and track means except at said follower means pickup and track conductor means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,548,633 8/1925 Sawyer et a1. 46-243 2,812,617 11/1957 Longarzo 46243 X 3,003,430 10/1961 Hamel 4693 X ROBERT PESHOCK, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 104-60; 273-86 

